In The News

Watergate negotiations dead – President Nixon, refusing to provide additional Watergate evidence to either the House Judiciary Committee or the special Watergate prosecutor, breaks-off all matters relating to Watergate.

Calling his daughter’s abductors “a bunch of criminals,” William Randolph Hearst posts a $50,000 reward and says he will do anything in his power to secure her release. “I think they have pretty well proven they’re not too interested in the people. They have just turned out to be a bunch of criminals and I want my daughter away from them if I can get her. This is one way. It is simply that we want to get our daughter back.”

F.B.I. Director Clarence Kelley acknowledges that the FBI is “stumped” in the Patricia Hearst kidnapping case and says the Symbionese Liberation Army has “found the key” to eluding the bureau “up to this point.”

Daughter Julie Nixon Eisenhower tells the press that her father said he would carry his battle against impeachment “down to the wire,” even if one U.S. senator believes in him.

Fascinating Facts – Gas Rationing Program Blunder – May 8, 1974

Blunder - The Federal Energy Administration acknowledges that the 4.8 billion standby gasoline-rationing coupons printed by the government could be used to activate machines that give change for $1 bills. The coupons bear the same image of George Washington as dollar bills and could be used in any standard bill-changing machine in the country and will return $1 worth of change. But, the FEA says it believes “it would not be advantageous to use the coupons in the dollar bill machines” should they be put on the market under rationing, because their probable value “would be in excess of $1 on the open market.”

Sports news – May 8, 1974

The Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-87 for the NBA championship. Coach Tom Heinsohn said the decision to use high-scoring John Havlicek as a decoy paved the way to the Celtics 12th championship in the NBA’s 28-year history.

Television news – May 8, 1974

ABC’s new “Today” show competition is ready to go, with a debut date of January 6. “AM America” will air opposite NBC’s “Today” show – Mon-Fri.